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Mike Macdonald is giving Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe the opportunity to fully show his skills in Friday’s preseason finale.
Aug 23, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) stands in the pocket against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Could the Seahawks’ preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs be the Jalen Milroe showcase Seattle fans have been waiting for? It sure sounds like it.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald announced at his press conference that Milroe will not only start against Kansas City but play all four quarters, giving the young quarterback his most extensive game action of the preseason.
Macdonald confirmed that the established starters who have been sitting out will continue to rest, meaning players like Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and Ernest Jones won’t suit up. But Milroe is a different story.
“Jalen’s going to play the whole game. Drew will be ready to go, but Jalen’s going to play the whole game. I mean, we’re making some independent decisions on some guys. Some, it’s not really a declaration of status or anything.
A lot of it has to do with just individual players where they’re at. Some things are health considered, some things are depth considered,” Macdonald said.
Secondary absences worth monitoring
Two players that Macdonald’s latter comments could especially apply to are rookie corner Julian Neal and veteran safety Rodney Thomas II. The Seahawks’ defensive back room has been thin, particularly with Nick Emmanwori working his way back and safety Bud Clark suffering a season-ending injury last week in Nashville.
I wouldn’t expect to see either Neal or Thomas on the field against Kansas City. Neal just returned to practice this week, and Thomas has still been missing time.
When Macdonald talks about health and depth considerations, those two fit the description. There’s no reason to push them in a preseason finale.
What Macdonald wants to see from Milroe
Now, back to the main event. Macdonald was asked what he wants to see from Milroe getting the full-game opportunity, and his answer was telling.
“Well, I think it’s really a great opportunity, just like the Green Bay game last year, where, you know, you’re not subbing in, you’re not coming in at halftime, you’re going through the whole process of starting the game and getting in rhythm and managing the situations, all those things that we want from our quarterback,” Macdonald said.
Look, Milroe has not had a strong preseason so far against either Dallas or Tennessee. He had a 72.9 passer rating against the Cowboys which was followed up by a 2 interception game against the Titans.
This is a chance to finally play a full game, build some continuity with the receivers around him, use his legs a little more (something Macdonald and the staff have been pushing for), and put four quarters of consistent football on tape.
I think this is a tremendous opportunity for Jalen Milroe to further prove himself to the Seahawks staff and fanbase.
There are no excuses here. He’s playing all four quarters. Maybe he won’t have the most talented supporting cast around him, but he’s getting consistent reps for an entire game. That matters.
Positive update on Seahawks WR Tory Horton
The other important takeaway from Macdonald’s press conference was about wide receiver Tory Horton. The second-year man out of Colorado State has been missing time with an undisclosed injury, and McDonald has kept everything very close to the vest.
When asked if they can rule out the possibility of a long-term injury, all Macdonald said was yes.
That’s great news for Seattle, especially after wide receiver Jake Bobo suffered a season-ending injury in Nashville last week. It means the Seahawks probably won’t be without Horton for too long, and we should see him on the field this year.
Horton showed positive signs in his rookie season before suffering a cracked tibia, so getting him back healthy is a big deal for this receiving corps.
All eyes will be on Milroe
The Seahawks’ preseason finale is the Jalen Milroe show. It should be fun to watch, and it gives both the fans and the coaching staff a real chance to evaluate what he can do with a full game in front of him.
This is an opportunity that he has to take advantage of as I doubt we will see him at all during the 2026 season.
Milroe has all the talent in the world as we know, but can he rise to the occasion when the spotlight is on him? We shall see in Kansas City tomorrow.
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